Vehicle-wheel.



No. 831,955. PATENTED SEPT. 25, 1906.

F. E. JOHNSTON & F. A. SNIDEMAN.

' VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK E. JOHNSTON ANDFRANK A. SNIDEMAN, OF SOUTH HAVEN, ICHIGAN.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept '25, 1906.

Application filed May 25, 1905. Serial No 262.235.

7 wheels for vehicles; and it consists in the peculiar .construction and combination of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of our invention is to provide an improved wheel having an elastic eri hery which is exceedingly strong and ura 1e and is not liable to be injured.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle-wheel embodying our improvements. Fig. 2 is a detail transverse sectional view of. the same. Fig.

' 3 is a detail elevation showing a modification.

The wheel 1 may be of any suitable size and construction and may be made of any suitable material. It has a rim 2, provided with a peripheral groove 3. Around the rim of the wheel are placed springs 4, each of which is substantially U-shaped, having the relatively short arm 5, the semicircular bent portion 6, andthe relatively long outer arm 7. The shorter arms of the springs are placed in the groove of the rim and secured to the rim by means of bolts 8. The arms of the several s rings all extend in the same direction, an the outer longer arm of each spring bears on and overlaps the longer arm of the next adjacent spring, as shown. Hence each spring is reinforced by the next adjacent springa The springs coact to provide the wheel with an elastic periphery, so that a vehicle provided with our improved wheels will run very smoothly and easily, and it will be understood that the springs are exceedingly strong and durable, are comparatively inexpensive, and are not likely to be injured.

desired, each of the springs can have its outer longer arm reinforced by a coil of other s'uitably-constructed spring 9, as shown at Fig. 3.

The wheel is shown as provided with spurs 10, secured to the longer arms of the U- shaped springs to adapt the wheel for use as a traction-wheel. I

Having thus described our invention, we

claim-- 1. A wheel of the class described having U-shaped springs secured on its periphery, each having its outer arm longer than its inner arm, bearing upon and partly overlapping the longer arm of the next adjacent spring and provided with an outwardly-extending s ur.

2. A w eel of the class described having U-shaped springs secured on its periphery, each havingits outer arm longer t an its inner arm, bearing upon and partly overlapping the longer arm spring, said longer arms coacting to form the tread ofthe wheel, and reinforcing-springs between the inner and outer arms of the firstmentioned springs.

In testimony whereof we have set our hands, this 4th day of May, presence of two attesting witnesses.

FRANK E. JOHNSTON. FRANK A. SNIDEMAN.

Witnesses:

W. G. BESSEY, W. W. Homes.

of the next adjacent A. D. 1905, in the 

